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DevExpress Updates .NET Development Tools for Windows 8.1, Visual Studio 2013

An updated Windows 8.1 API created opportunities for new tools.

Microsoft designed Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 to be a touch-first operating system. For traditional .NET developers, that creates a new series of challenges, as they're used to the non-touch, keyboard-and-mouse-based world.

DevExpress, a maker of .NET-focused UI tools, has a set of XAML controls to help those developers. Called DevExpress Windows 8 XAML Controls, they've recently been updated  (to v13.2) to fully support Windows 8.1.

A DevExpress press release notes the new controls and features in the latest version:

  • A new PDF Viewer Control with full support for touch gestures, printing and multiple page view styles
  • Microsoft Excel-inspired Data Filtering UI and horizontal virtualization support within its high-performance XAML 8 Grid Control
  • Tile Control enhancements that support new sizing options and animations that match those introduced in Windows 8.1

In addition, changes to the Windows 8.1 API created the opportunity for several features specific to the updated OS:

  • New application resizing mechanism
  • Faster XAML loading, thanks to pre-compilation to a binary format
  • On-demand style loading

"Whether targeting mobile devices such as Surface or traditional desktop PCs, our high-performance and touch-centric UI controls will continue to evolve to meet the needs of .NET developers worldwide," Julian M. Bucknall, DevExpress CTO, stated in the release.

The Windows 8 XAML package is $499.99 standalone, and DevExpress has a 30-day free trial offer.

DevExpress also announced full support for the just-launched Visual Studio 2013, as well as Internet Explorer 11, across its entire product line.

About the Author

Keith Ward is the editor in chief of Virtualization & Cloud Review. Follow him on Twitter @VirtReviewKeith.

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